- Adventuress (dinghy)
The
Adventuress sailingdinghy class was designed byIan Proctor and built by [http://www.aavx76.dial.pipex.com Anglo Marine] ofEssex . It is no longer in production.It is not known how many were built or how many survive today although the secondhand market occasionally sees an Adventuress changing hands.
The Adventuress is classed as a family dinghy due to its spacious design and stable hull made so by the unique
bilge keel s. It is ideally suited for families, or less experienced sailors, or those who want a solid, easily handled undemanding dinghy for cruising. Although larger than both, the Adventuress could be compared to a Heron or Gull (which is also built by Anglo Marine).The dinghy is 12 feet 6 inches long with a
mast just over 18 feet.It is sailed with a
Mainsail andJib and performs very well, remaining balanced in all conditions.Construction
An Adventuress is solidly constructed of GRP. The
bilge keel s are formed as an integral part of the hull and create dynamic and directional stability - they do not contain ballast. The Hull and Deck mouldings are complemented by inner mouldings that create built-in buoyancy tanks at bow and stern and along each side. Originally, these buoyancy tanks had no external access, although some owners will have added hatches and bungs to make these accessible for stowage and to help the hull breathe when in storage.The unusual configuration of the bow buoyancy tank creates a generous amount of stowage space under the foredeck for paddles, buckets, fishing gear etc.
There are no floorboards or an inner floor.
The rudder, tiller and extension are made from wood. The original design has a lifting rudder which is held in the down position by a piece of shockcord.
As these boats are now getting on a bit, the original
gelcoat may have faded or gone chalky if the boat was not kept under cover. It would not be unusual in a boat of this age for hulls to have been renovated by painting the original gelcoat.The deck and inner mouldings have a moulded-in non-slip pattern on the decks and side benches. The inner edge of the side deck is contoured making the boat comfortable to sit inside, and also comfortable to the backs of the legs when sitting on or hiking out over the side decks.
A marine plywood case houses the
centreboard , and supports the cross-thwart - which is made from solid mahogany.Moulded into the back is a useful locker with a marine ply hatch, which, though not watertight is handy for holding flasks, sandwiches and knick-knacks.
The boat had no facility for rowlocks and oars. Some examples feature a mounting point for a small outboard motor adjacent to the rudder.
Rig
An Aluminium mast and boom are used to set a
bermuda rig ofMainsail andJib . Keeping things simple, the jib sheets lead to fixed fairleads and cam-cleats, the mainsail is loose-footed, and the mainsheet leads to a rope horse across the transom. ClamCleats may be present to allow this Mainsheet traveller to be adjusted. The standard mainsail has 3 fibreglass battens, and can be shaped using a kicking strap and Cunningham.ailing
For it's size, the Adventuress is a stable dinghy ideal for learning, or relaxed family cruising, although, given enough wind, the boat will plane off the wind. The beamy hull and the small keels on the bilges give the boat a forgiving nature although, like any unballasted dinghy, it is, of course, possible to
capsize it. When capsized, the boat floats high in the water (due to the generous amount of built-in buoyancy) and can be righted in the standard way by standing on the projecting centreboard.Despite it's size, because of its uncluttered cockpit and simple controls, the boat can accommodate up to four people while sailing.
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